- Junior Starlets were crowned the sports team of the year in the women’s category in the 2024 SOYA Awards.
- Some of the other teams that emerged victorious in the SOYA Awards include the Friends School Kamusinga basketball team and the Kenya Pipeline women’s volleyball team.
- The 2024 SOYA Awards ceremony was held at the KICC on Friday night.
Junior Starlets was crowned the team of the year in the women’s category at the 2024 SOYA awards that was held at the KICC on Friday night.
The team, which has made headlines in recent months, outshone the Kenya Pipeline Volleyball and the national amputee football teams respectively to lift the coveted SOYA award.
Junior Starlets was followed by the national amputee football team with Kenya Pipeline settling for the third position in the SOYA Awards.
Junior Starlets carries Kenya’s flag higher
The Mildred Cheche coached side made Kenyans proud last year by qualifying for the 2024 FIFA U17 Girls World Cup for the first time ever.
Some of the nations that Junior Starlets defeated in the qualifiers of the prestigious tournament that was hosted by the Dominican Republic include Burundi and Ethiopia.
At the global showpiece, Junior Starlets secured a victory in one of their group matches, beating Mexico 2-1.
Valerie Nekesa and Lornah Faith were on the score sheet for the youngsters, with the latter clinching the player of the match award in the process.
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche feted
Besides Junior Starlets, their head coach Cheche was also feted with the best coach of the year trophy in the SOYA Awards.
Cheche and the Junior Starlets are currently preparing for a do or die 2025 FIFA U17 Girls World Cup qualifier fixture against Cameroon.
The team, which is finalizing its preparations in Nairobi, will host Cameroon at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday before traveling to Yaounde for the second leg that is planned for Friday, April 25.
An aggregate win for Junior Starlets will guarantee them a ticket to the world cup that will be held in Morocco later this year.
Elsewhere, track stars Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet were named the sportspersons of the year in the men’s and women’s category in that order in the SOYA awards.
Some of the other athletes that emerged winners in the SOYA awards include Samson Ojuka, who bagged the sportsperson with disability of the year award in the men’s category, and John Bobby Ogola who made it to the Hall of Fame.
Full list of SOYA Award winners
Sportsman of the year
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Athletics)
- Ronald Kwemoi (Athletics)
- Benson Kipruto (Athletics)
Sportswoman of the year
- Beatrice Chebet (Athletics)
- Faith Kipyegon (Athletics)
- Hellen Obiri (Athletics)
Sportsman of the year with disability
- Samson Ojuka (Paralympics, Long jump
- Kennedy Ogada (Paralympics, Cycling)
- Shadrack Kipyegon (Powerlifting)
Sportswoman of the year with disability
- Michelle Chepngetich (Paralympics- Discus)
- Sheila Wanyonyi (Paralympics, Javelin)
- Valerie Olesia (Powerlifting)
Coach of the year award
- Mildred Cheche (National under-17 Girls Football Team)
Sports team of the year (Men category)
- Thunder (Basketball)
- Rising Stars (national under 20 football team)
- Kenya Prisons (Volleyball)
Sports team of the year (Women)
- Junior Starlets (national U17 football team)
- National Amputee Team (Football)
- Kenya Pipeline (Volleyball)
School coach of the year
- Benson Mwenda (All Saints Embu Rugby coach)
School team of the year (Girls)
- Kesogon (Volleyball)
- St Joseph’s (Rugby 7s)
- Butere (Basketball)
School team of the year (Boys)
- All Saints Embu (Rugby 15s)
- Friends School Kamusinga (Basketball)
- Musingu (Hockey)
Hall of Fame
- John Bobby Ogolla
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